he miscarriage of
his two malevolent neighbors, Front-de-Boeuf and Malvoisin, had
accompanied the victor in each course not with his eyes only, but with
his whole heart and soul. The Lady Rowena had watched the progress of
the day with equal attention, though without openly betraying the same
intense interest. Even the unmoved Athelstane had shown symptoms of
shaking off his apathy, when, calling for a huge goblet of muscadine, he
quaffed it to the health of the Disinherited Knight.

Whether from indecision or some other motive of hesitation, the champion
of the day remained stationary for more than a minute, while the eyes of
the silent audience were riveted upon his motions; and then, gradually
and gracefully sinking the point of his lance, he deposited the coronet
which it supported at the feet of the fair Rowena. The trumpets
instantly sounded, while the heralds proclaimed the Lady Rowena the
Queen of Beauty and of Love for the ensuing day, menacing with suitable
penalties those who should be disobedient to her authority. They then
repeated their cry of "Largesse," to which Cedric, in the height of his
joy, replied by an ample donative, and to which Athelstane, though less
promptly, added one equally large.

There was some murmuring among the damsels of Norman descent, who were
as much unused to see the preference given to a Saxon beauty as the
Norman nobles were to sustain defeat in the games of chivalry which they
themselves had introduced. But these sounds of disaffection were drowned
by the popular shout of "Long live the Lady Rowena, the chosen and
lawful Queen of Love and of Beauty!" To which many in the lower area
added, "Long live the Saxon Princess! long live the race of the immortal
Alfred!"

However unacceptable these sounds might be to Prince John and to those
around him, he saw himself nevertheless obliged to confirm the
nomination of the victor, and accordingly calling to horse, he left his
throne, and mounting his jennet, accompanied by his train, he again
entered the lists.

Spurring his horse, as if to give vent to his vexation, he made the
animal bound forward to the gallery where Rowena was seated, with the
crown still at her feet.

"Assume," he said, "fair lady, the mark of your sovereignty, to which
none vows homage more sincerely than ourself, John of Anjou; and if it
please you to-day, with your noble sire and friends, to grace our
banquet in the Castle of Ashby, we shall learn to know t